Summary
Small pieces of rat adrenal medulla were homologously transplanted to the anterior chamber of the eye. The eyes were adrenergically denervated. Transplants became attached to and vascularized by the iris of the host eye. Transplants and irides were examined at various times postoperatively with the histochemical fluorescence method of Falck and Hillarp.
It was shown that the adrenal medullary transplants were able to produce catecholamine-containing nerves that partly reinnervated the denervated host iris. The nerves derived at least partly from groups of highly fluorescent cells, similar to the adrenaline and/or noradrenaline cells of the normal adrenal medulla. The cells were thus not similar to sympathetic adrenergic nerve cells.
Intravasal secretion of fluorescent material was observed in one case, indicating that the transplanted medullary tissue was also able to fullfill its normal endocrinological role of releasing hormones to the blood stream.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Corrodi, H., Jonsson, G.: The formaldehyde fluorescence method for the histochemical demonstration of biogenic amines. A review on the methodology. J. Histochem. Cytochem.15, 65–78 (1967).
Coupland, R. E., Holmes, R. L.: The distribution of cholinesterase in the adrenal glands of the rat, cat and rabbit. J. Physiol. (Lond.)141, 97–106 (1958).
—, Hopwood, D.: The mechanism of the differential staining reaction for adrenaline- and noradrenaline-storing granules in tissues fixed in glutaraldehyde. J. Anat. (Lond.)100, 227–243 (1966).
—, MacDougall, I. D. B.: Adrenaline formation in noradrenaline-storing chromaffin cellsin vitro induced by corticosterone. J. Endocr.36, 317–324 (1966).
—, Pyper, A. S., Hopwood, D.: A method for differentiating between noradrenaline- and adrenaline-storing cells in the light and electron microscope. Nature (Lond.)201, 1240–1242 (1964).
Elfvin, L. G.: The fine structure of the cell surface of chromaffin cells in the rat adrenal medulla. J. Ultrastruct. Res.12, 263–286 (1965).
—: A new granule-containing nerve cell in the inferior mesenteric ganglion of the rabbit. J. Ultrastruct. Res.22, 37–44 (1968).
Eränkö, O.: Distribution of fluorescing islets, adrenaline and noradrenaline in the adrenal medulla of the hamster. Acta endocr. (Kbh.)18, 174–179 (1955).
—: Specific demonstration of acetylcholinesterase and non-specific cholinesterase in the adrenal gland of the rat. Histochemie1, 257–267 (1959).
Eränkö, O., Härkönen, M.: Monoamine-containing small cells in the superior cervical ganglion of the rat and an organ composed of them. Acta physiol. scand.63, 511–512 (1965).
Falck, B., Hillarp, N.-Ă., Thieme, G., Torp, A.: Fluorescence of catechol amines and related compounds condensed with formaldehyde. J. Histochem. Cytochem.10, 348–354 (1962).
Hillarp, N.-Ă.: The construction and functional organization of the autonomic innervation apparatus. Acta physiol. scand.46, Suppl. 157, 1–38 (1959).
—, Hökfelt, B.: Evidence of adrenaline and noradrenaline in separate adrenal medullary cells. Acta physiol. scand.30, 55–68 (1953).
Lewis, P. R., Shute, C. C. D.: The distribution of cholinesterase in cholinergic neurons demonstrated with the electron microscope. J. Cell Sci.1, 381–390 (1966).
—: An electron-microscopic study of cholinesterase distribution in the rat adrenal medulla. J. Microsc.89, 181–193 (1969).
Malmfors, T.: Studies on adrenergic nerves. The use of rat and mouse iris for direct observations on their physiology and pharmacology at cellular and subcellular levels. Acta physiol. scand.64, Suppl. 248, 1–93 (1965).
—, Olson, L.: Adrenergic reinnervation of anterior chamber transplants. Acta physiol. scand.71, 401–402 (1967).
—, Sachs, Ch.: Direct studies on the disappearance of the transmitter and the changes in the uptake-storage mechanisms of degenerating nerves. Acta physiol. scand.64, 385–399 (1965).
Matthews, M. R., Raisman, G.: The ultrastructure and somatic efferent synapses of small granule-containing cells in the superior cervical ganglion. J. Anat. (Lond.).105, 255–282 (1969).
Moppert, J.: Zur Ultrastruktur der phaeochromen Zellen im Nebennierenmark der Ratte. Z. Zellforsch.74, 32–44 (1966).
Norberg, K.-A.: Transmitter histochemistry of the sympathetic adrenergic nervous system. Brain Res.5, 125–170 (1967).
—, Hamberger, B.: The sympathetic adrenergic neuron. Some characteristics revealed by histochemical studies on the intraneuronal distribution of the transmitter. Acta physiol. scand.63, Suppl. 238, 1–42 (1964).
—, Ritzén, M., Ungerstedt, U.: Histochemical studies on a special catecholamine-containing cell type in sympathetic ganglia. Acta physiol. scand.67, 260–270 (1966).
Olson, L., Malmfors, T.: Growth characteristics of adrenergic nerves in the adult rat. Fluorescence histochemical and3H-NA uptake studies using tissue transplantations to the anterior chamber of the eye. Acta physiol. scand., Suppl. (1970) (in press).
—, Ungerstedt, U.: A simple high capacity freeze-drier for histochemical use. Histochemie22, 8–19 (1970).
Palkama, A.: Distribution of adrenaline, noradrenaline and acid phosphatase, cholinesterases and non-specific esterases in the adrenal medulla of some mammals. Ann. Med. exp. Fenn.40, Suppl. 3, 1–82 (1962).
—: Demonstration of adrenomedullary catecholamines and cholinesterases at electronmicroscopic level in the same tissue section. Ann. Med. exp. Fenn.45, 295–306 (1967).
Rubin, R. P., Cohen, M. S., Harman, S. M., Roer, E. M.: The localization of adrenaline-rich medullary chromaffin cells adjacent to the adrenal cortex. J. Endocr.41, 541–545 (1968).
Siegrist, G., Dolivo, M., Dunant, Y., Foroglou-Kerameus, C., Ribaupierre, F. de., Rouiller, Ch.: Ultrastructure and function of the chromaffin cells in the superior cervical ganglion of the rat. J. Ultrastruct. Res.25, 381–407 (1968).
—, Ribanpierre, F. de., Dolivo, N.: Les cellules chromaffines des ganglions cervicaux supérieures du Rat. J. Microsc.5, 791–794 (1966).
Unsicker, K.: Über die Ganglienzellen im Nebennierenmark des Goldhamsters. Z. Zellforsch.76, 187–219 (1967).
Virrágh, Sz., Both, A. K.: The fine structure of abdominal paraganglia in the newborn mouse. Acta biol. Acad. Sci. Hung.18, 161–179 (1967).
Williams, T. M.: Electron microscopic evidence for an autonomic interneuron. Nature (Lond.)214, 309–310 (1967).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This investigation was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (B70-14x-714-05 and B70-14x-711-05B), Svenska Livförsäkringsbolags nämnd för medicinsk forskning, Ollie and Elof Ericssons Stiftelse and Stiftelsen Therese och Johan Anderssons Minne. The skilful technical assistance of Mrs. Ulla Flyger and Mrs. Barbro Norstedt is greatfully acknowledged.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Olson, L. Fluorescence histochemical evidence for axonal growth and secretion from transplanted adrenal medullary tissue. Histochemie 22, 1–7 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310543
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310543